The prevailing hunger that has provoked the current nationwide protest, except in the southeast region of the country, can only solved if Nigerians take the available opportunities and give more attention to farming. This was the appeal of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Senator Abubakar Kyari. The minister, therefore, pleaded with the people, the youth in particular, that they should embrace the new advantages offered by the Bola Tinubu administration to solve the food insecurity in the country, while they also make money from farming.
Senator Kyari, who said that protest would be counter-productive, implored the youth to channel their energies towards crucial agricultural businesses to boost food security. In a post on X formerly Twitter, the minister had called for a restraint on the ongoing hunger protest nationwide. He said, “In these times when the call for protests echoes across our nation, I, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, urge our farmers to reflect on the profound impact of dedicating their focus to farming activities. As food prices begin to decline, we have a unique opportunity to bolster food security in our beloved nation.
“I extend a heartfelt appeal to all Nigerians, especially our vibrant youth and dedicated farmers, to resist the temptation to protest against the government. Instead, I encourage everyone to channel their energies towards crucial agricultural endeavours that fortify our nation’s food security.”
According to the minister, he was not making that appeal because he was blind to the hardship in the country. Rather he expressed the belief that, since everyone agreed that there is food insecurity, the proper way to go was look for the solution. He, therefore, said that the solution is in the programmes that the federal government had started and for which it is has deployed resources and energy for the massive production of food in the country. Hea him: “We acknowledge the challenges many have faced due to the surge in food prices.
“Our President has sanctioned numerous intervention programs to support farmers in their agricultural pursuits. One such intervention is the ongoing distribution of farming inputs under the NAGS-AP Program, designed to alleviate the burdens faced by smallholder farmers in accessing essential agricultural inputs.
“Let us heed this call to action and concentrate our energies on nurturing our agricultural lands rather than engaging in protests that may sow seeds of discord and anarchy”.
Speaking further the minister urged Nigerians to focus on cultivating prosperity through food production, advocating dialogue over protest, and fostering negotiation instead of confrontation.
BUSHLINK reports that the protest is against bad governance in Nigeria and the demand for political and economic reform commenced in the major cities of the country including Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt amid a heavy security presence.